Why did the Jews wave palm branches instead of olive branches when Jesus passed through the Mount of Olives?

Answer 1

Certainly, olive branches would seem to have been more available than palm branches on the Mount of Olives, but the original story of Palm Sunday did not actually feature palm branches.

Mark's Gospel was the earliest of the New Testament gospels and in this Gospel, it is not palm leaves, but leafy branches that are spread on the road. Mark 11:8-9 says (NAB), "Many people spread their cloaks on the road, and others spread leafy branches that they had cut from the fields. And they that went before, and they that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna; Blessed be he that cometh in the name of the Lord."

John Shelby Spong (Jesus for the NonReligious) says the story came from the Jewish Sukkoth festival, which was actually held at an entirely different time of year:The ]ewish eight day celebration of the harvest, known as Sukkoth, and also called the Festival of the Tabernacles or Booths, was probably the most popular holiday among the Jews in the first century. In the observance of Sukkoth, worshippers processed through Jerusalem and in the Temple, waving a bunch of leafy branches made of willow, myrtle and palm. As they waved these branches in that procession, the worshippers recited words from Psalm 118, the psalm normally used at Sukkoth. Among these words were "Save us, we beseech you, O Lord." Save us in Hebrew is hosianna or 'hosanna'. This is typically followed by "Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord. (Psalm 118:25-6).

Mark took the Sukkoth traditions and transferred them from autumn to the Passover season for the procession story. Because the Passover season is too early for 'leafy branches' (except palms), John changed this to 'palm branches', creating our modern tradition of Palm Sunday. But in the earliest account, leafy branches were used, and these could have included olive branches. However, as these were not really available at that time of year, the conclusion is that this story began as an elaboration to demonstrate a capricious and unpredictable character in the Jerusalem people, who would shortly demand the crucifixion of Jesus.